Reel traverse



P 1953 G. G. TUCKER, JR 2,652,992

REEL TRAVERSE Filed Dec. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 22, 1953 e. G. TUCKER, JR 2,652,992

REEL TRAVERSE Filed Dec. 8, 1950 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 George 6 Tue/6e! J2? winding machines in the plant of the spool. :rately manufacturedreeltraverses with the end flanges particularly designed for their machines.

pensive.

Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATEE r OFF-ICE REEL TRAVERSE .George G. Tucker, Jr.,

"Hubbard .Spool Company,

poration of Illinois Berwyn, 111., ass'ignor ,to

Chicago, 111., a cor- .aapplicationlDecember 8, 1950,.Scrial No.. 19.9;150 13"C1aims. (01.242-124) The present invention relates to a reinforced traverse or barrel .constructionfor reel or spool assemblies.

A common practice among users of wire holding spools is that of manufacturing their own end flanges-for spool assemblies to be used in wire winding machines, the flanges being manufactured specifically .for the particular wire the user. The reel traverse portion of the spool assembly is purchased from a supplier, the selection .of a particular type of traverse being dependent upon the type of wire which would :be wound upon Such users thenassemble the sepa- The objections to the use of prefabricated reel traverses are primarily concerned with their cost. conventionally, such reel traverses are fabricated from seamless steel tubes which are .rather ex- A further objection to the use of this type of reel traverse resides in their relative .bulkiness, as such traverses require considerable .space in shipping, and in storage prior-totheir assembly with the end flanges to complete the 'spool assembly,

sembled into a substantially rigid reel traverse. 'Inseveral of the embodiments. of the invention,

means are provided on the segmental sections to facilitate locking the sections in place, and thereby avoid slippage between individual sections when the sectionsare in assembled position.

'One of the objects of the, present invention is to provide a traverse for reel construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new type of traverse for a reel which can be manufactured simply and economically from ordinary sheet metalstock.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a traverse construction with reinforcing ribs extending axially of the traverse-so that the reel may accommodate substantially greater loads of wire or cable without buckling or deformation.

In the present invention, 1 have; provided a traverse section for v a. reel assembly which includes a plurality of segmental sections having with the end flanges .3 after the samehas longitudinally extending flange portions in abutting contact to form a circular traverse with axially extending reinforcing ribs. One of the'features of the invention resides in the simplicity and economy of manufacture of .such traverse members, the cost of a steel traverse member produced according to the present invention being even less than a wood traverse of the same outer diameter.

A further description of the present invention will be made inconnection with the attached sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in elevation, cross-section of a spool assembly,

partially in showing the reel traverseof the present invention in assembled relation with, end flanges;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional end'view of the.

structure shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view Figure 4 is an end into a segmental section;

Figure 5 is a viewin elevation of two of the segmental'sections ure 5 are joined together in traverse;

Figure '7 isa illustrated in Fi invention Figure 8 is a view in elevation'of the blank in. Figure '7 after thesame is curved into an arcuate.

section; and

traverse.

As shown on the drawings:

As best illustrated in Figures .1 and 2, thereel' traverse or barrel of the present invention-consists of a plurality of segmental sections Ill; there being four identicalsections ID in the-form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1: and 2,"al-- though it willbe-appreciated thatthereelitraverse may be composed of more or less than the foursectionsillustrated.

Each-of the sections It. has'portions llrand 52 adjacent itsopposed marginal edges'bent inwardly so that these portions-extend along theradius of curvature :of the .-completed reel traverse. In this manner, when the individual seg-- of ablank used in. forming the segmental portions in making up: the traverse;

view of the blank of Figure been curved and bent overa segmental" section representing .a modified form of the pres-- ent invention;

Figure 6 is a'fragmentary view showing how' the completed reel;

plan-view of a blank used in: forming anothenmodifled form of the'present'.

mental portions II] are placed together in assembled relationship, as illustrated in Figure 2, the longitudinal end portions I I and I2 lie flat against the corresponding longitudinal end portions of the segmental sections I immediately adjoining the same.

The opposite ends of each of the sections I 0 are inwardly turned to form annular flange portions I3. Each of the flange portions I3 is suitably apertured as indicated at I 4 to receive spaced bolts I5 therethrough.

In assembling the individual sections I0 into the completed reel assembly, portions I3 are wedged within an annular recess I1 formed in each of a pair of identical end flanges I8 and I9. The sections II] are aligned in the annular recess I! to form a circular traverse, whereupon the opposing end flange I9 is pressed over the opposite ends of the reel traverse. While not shown in the drawing, it will be understood that the end flange I9, similarly to the end flange I8, has a radial recess for retaining the annular flange I3 therein.

After assembly of the reel traverse and to the end flanges I8 and I9, the securing bolts I5 are passed through the flanges I8 and I9 as well as the apertures I4 in the reel traverse section. Securing nuts 20 force the end flanges I 8 and IQ into tight engagement with the reel traverse portion to prevent relative movement between the individual sections III due to centrifugal force during the rotation of the spool assembly.

The method of manufacturing the individual sections I0 shown in Figure 2 can be best described in connection with Figures 3 and 4. As shown on these two figures, the sections It may be fabricated from a substantially rectangular blank 2! of suitable sheet metal material which for example may be sixteen gauge sheet steel. The corners of the blanks 2I are cut away as indicated at 22 to facilitate bending of the edges of the blank 2I. At the time that the individual blanks H are stamped from a piece of sheet metal, the apertures I4 are also punched out with suitable dies. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 14, each of the blanks 2| is provided with three spaced apertures I 4 on each edge of the blank. As shown in Figure 2, a maximum of two of the apertures will be used to retain the securing bolts I5. However, it is desirable to provide more apertures than required in any one section, so that each of the blanks 2! will be identical, and no inconvenience will result in having to select diiferent segmental sections to provide proper location of the securing bolts I5.

After stamping of the blank 2| in the manner shown in Figure 3, the edge portions I3 are turned inwardly to form the annular flange portion engaging the flange members I8 and I9. At the same time, the blank 2| is given an arcuate shape, as illustrated in Figure 4, and the opposite edge portions I I and I2 are also turned radially inwardly to form the longitudinally extending ribs illustrated in Figure 2. As previously described, the marginal end portions I I and I2 are bent such that they lie along a radius of curvature of the completed circular reel traverse, so that the edge portions II and I2 of adjoining segments I!) lie flat against each other in abutting contact.

A modified form of the segmental section is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The blank used in fabricating this modified form may be the same as that illustrated in Figure 3. In addition, however, the portions II and I2 adjacent the the annular flange .4 marginal edges are provided with struck out tabs 25 at spaced points therealong. Striking out the integral tabs 25 from the sheet metal form results in the production of apertures 26 in both the marginal edge portions II and I2.

The tabs 25 are struck out at different points along the marginal edge portion I2 then at the opposed marginal edge portion II. Thus, when two of the sections I 0 are placed in abutting contact, the tabs 25 formed in the edge portion II extend through the apertures 26 formed in the marginal edge portion I2 of the adjoining segment I0. In the same manner, the tabs 25 of the marginal edge portion I2 extend through the apertures 26 of the adjoining segment I0. An eflicient interlock is thereby provided between the abutting tabs 25 to prevent relative movement longitudinally between the abutting segments II].

Still another modified form of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 7-9, inclusive. In the modification there illustrated, a blank 30 is provided with serrated edge portions providing teeth or tabs 3I adjacent one marginal edge thereof, and similar tabs 32 at the opposed edge portion. As best illustrated in Figure 7, the tabs 32 and the tabs 3| are in staggered relation with respect to each other, each of the tabs 3| being longitudinally aligned with the recessed portion between the individual tabs 32.

In shaping the blank 30 into the arcuate shape desired in the finished segmental sections, the blank 39 is also stamped to offset the tabs 3| and 32 from the remainder of the stock. This offsetting is perhaps best illustrated in Figure 9, which shows two similar segmental sections 45 interlocked adjacent their marginal edges by the interengagement of the tabs 3I and 32 at their respective marginal edge portions into a hingetype engagement.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 7-9, inclusive is a particularly preferred one because it obviates the necessity of providing the annular recesses in the flange assemblies, corresponding to recess H in Figure 1. As the individual sections 45 are assembled, the interengaging tabs 3I and 32 lock the segmental sections together to form a self-sustaining rigid structure. The spool assembly can then be conveniently assembled by merely placing the end flanges I8 and I9 over the self-sustaining reel traverse and inserting the locking bolts I5 through the appropriate apertures in the end flanges I 8 and I9 as well as the completed reel traverse.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have herein provided a novel and economical type of reel traverse which may be manufactured from simple metal stampings. The reel traverses of the present invention are sturdy, and capable of resisting substantial axial as well as radial thrust.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invenion.

I claim as my invention:

1. A reel traverse comprising a plurality of segmental sections, each of said sections having portions adjacent the marginal edge thereof formed with off-set integral tabs extending therefrom and having spaced substantially parallel opposed sides, said tabs being arranged to ensegmental sections, each of said sections also having opposed pairs of marginal edges bent inwardly thereof to form annular flanges at 0pposite ends of said traverse.

2. A reel traverse comprising a plurality of segmental sections, each of said sections being arcuately shaped and having off-set tabs provided with substantially spaced parallel sides and formed at portions adjacent opposed marginal edges thereof, the tabs at one edge being staggered with respect to the tabs at the opposed edge of the same section such that upon assembly of said section into a circular traverse, the tabs on adjoining sections interlock to form a self-sustaining circular reel traverse, said sections each having opposed marginal portions bent inwardly to form upon assembly of said traverse, opposed annular flange portions at opposite ends of said traverse.

3. A reel traverse comprising a plurality of segmental sections each having a pair of opposed ends, each of said sections being arcuately shaped and having inwardly bent opposed marginal side portions, each of said sections having their ends off-set inwardly and notched to provide a plurality of spaced off-set tabs, said tabs at one end of each of said sections being staggered with respect to the tabs at the other end thereof, whereby upon assembly the tabs on adjoining sections interlock within said notches with the 6 inner edge of each of said notches in juxtaposition with respect to the inner ends of said oiT-set tabs on the adjoining sections to form a selfsustained circular reel traverse with a substantially continuous external curvilinear surface, and said inwardly bent marginal side edges defining substantially continuous annular flanges at each end thereof.

GEORGE G. TUCKER, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,417,617 McNeil May 30, 1922 1,475,704 Kaufmann Nov. 27, 1923 1,852,243 Hubbard Apr. 5, 1932 1,911,428 Bureau May 30, 1933 1,924,977 Buhler Aug. 29, 1933 2,058,151 Hayward Oct. 20, 1936 2,156,363 Tucker May 2, 1939 2,264,117 Howsam Nov. 25, 1941 2,330,207 England et a1 Sept. 28, 1943 2,462,408 Larkin Feb. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,885 Great Britain of 1890 442,944 Great Britain Feb. 17, 1936 530,838 Great Britain Dec. 23, 1940 

